Composite finder system and method of use thereof

Abstract

Provided is a method to detect dental composite materials by using a dental tool that provides a source of ultraviolet light. The method includes steps of projecting the source of ultraviolet light to be directed onto one or more dental composite materials on a tooth of a patient. The dental tools used for the method include a visible light source, an ultraviolet light source and a switch which switches light projected from the tool between visible light and ultraviolet light.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for assessing human teeth, comprising:
 projecting an ultraviolet light on the teeth of a human subject; and   detecting fluorescence of dental composites on one or more teeth of the human subject.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising recording a tooth location for each of the one or more teeth where fluorescence of dental composites was detected. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein projecting is performed with a pen light. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein projecting is performed with a head lamp. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein projecting is performed with a dental microscope operating light. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein projecting is performed with a light mounted on a dental overhead light. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein projecting is performed with a light attached to eyeglasses. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the ultraviolet light has a spectrum of wavelengths ranging from 100 to 400 nanometers. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein detecting is performed with a camera. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 2  wherein recording is performed using a computer. 
     
     
         11 . A dental inspection tool comprising
 a visible light source,   an ultraviolet light source,   a switch which switches light projected from the tool between visible light and ultraviolet light.   
     
     
         12 . The tool of  claim 11 , wherein the tool is a handheld device. 
     
     
         13 . The tool of  claim 11 , wherein the tool is a pen light. 
     
     
         14 . The tool of  claim 11 , wherein the tool is a dental microscope. 
     
     
         15 . The tool of  claim 11 , wherein the tool is attached to dental loupes. 
     
     
         16 . The tool of  claim 11 , wherein the tool is mounted on a dental overhead light. 
     
     
         17 . The tool of  claim 11 , wherein the tool has a controller that sets a wavelength of the ultraviolet light source. 
     
     
         18 . The tool of  claim 17 , wherein the wavelength is selected from a range between about 150 to about 390 nanometers.